Quebec mosque attack suspect charged with 6 counts of first-degree murder

Reporting from Quebec City —  The 27-year-old suspect in a terrorist attack against Muslims at a Quebec City mosque was charged Monday with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder.

Alexandre Bissonnette was known for taking right-wing, nationalist positions and supporting the French far-right party of Marine Le Pen. The shooting during evening prayers Sunday left six people dead in an attack that Canada’s prime minister called an act of terrorism against Muslims.

Bissonnette has Le Pen and U.S. President Trump as likes on his Facebook profile, and Francois Deschamps, an official with a refugee advocacy group, said he was known for his far-right views.

“It’s with pain and anger that we learn the identity of terrorist Alexandre Bissonnette, unfortunately known to many activists in Quebec for taking nationalist, pro-Le Pen and anti-feminist positions at Laval University and on social media,” he wrote on the Facebook page of the group, Bienvenues aux Refugies, or Welcome to Refugees.

More than 50 people were at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Center when the shooting erupted Sunday night. In addition to the six who died, five were in critical condition and 12 others suffered minor injuries, University of Quebec Hospital Center spokeswoman Genevieve Dupuis said Monday. The dead ranged in age from 35 to 65.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard both characterized the attack as a terrorist act, which came amid heightened tensions worldwide over Trump’s travel ban on several Muslim countries.

Trudeau said in Parliament the victims were targeted simply because of their religion and spoke directly to the more than 1 million Muslims who live in Canada, saying, “We are with you.”

“Thirty-six million hearts are breaking with yours,” Trudeau said. “Know that we value you.”

The suspect was arrested in his car on a bridge near d’Orleans, where he called 911 to say he wanted to cooperate with police. Authorities, who initially named two suspects, said the other man taken into custody was a witness to the attack and was released earlier Monday. They said they did not believe there were other suspects but were investigating.

Police did not give a motive for the attack.

Trump called Trudeau to express condolences to the Canadian people and to offer any assistance that might be needed.

The White House pointed to the attack as an example of why Trump’s policies were needed.

“We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. It’s a terrible reminder of why we must remain vigilant and why the president is taking steps to be pro-active, rather than reactive when it comes to our nation’s safety and security,” White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

The victims were businessmen, a university professor and others who had gathered for evening prayers, said Mohamed Labidi, the vice president of the mosque.

“‘It’s a very, very big tragedy for us,” Labidi said tearfully. “We have a sadness we cannot express.”

He said the victims were shot in the back.

“Security at our mosque was our major, major concern,” he said. “But we were caught off guard.”

The shooting took place just before 8 p.m. Sunday. Witnesses described chaos as worshipers scrambled to find friends and loved ones, as police responding to the scene called for backup.

Canada is generally welcoming toward immigrants and all religions, but the French-speaking province of Quebec has had a long-simmering debate about race and religious accommodation. The previous separatist government of the province called for a ban on ostentatious religious symbols, such as the hijab, in public institutions.

Couillard said he would “not go there” when asked if he blamed rhetoric in the U.S. for the attack.

“Quebec is a good, generally loving society, but we have these devils as other societies have. We have to recognize that and fight them,” Couillard said at a news conference in Quebec City at which he held hands with Muslim leaders.

In the summer of 2016 a pig’s head was left on the doorstep of the Quebec Islamic Cultural Center in the middle of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Practicing Muslims do not eat pork.

“The Muslim community was the target of this murderous attack,” Couillard said. He said solidarity rallies would be held across Quebec later Monday.

Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume, appearing shaken, said: “No person should have to pay with their life for their race, their color, their sexual orientation or their religious beliefs.”

Worshiper Ali Hamadi said he left the mosque a few minutes before the shooting, and a friend, Abdelkrim Hassen, was killed. He said Hassen, who worked in information technology for the government, had three daughters and a wife, whom he had to notify about the death.

Majdi Dridi of the Muslim Assn. of Canada said he knew two of the victims. One was a work colleague who was a father of three little girls, he said.

“I don’t know what to say, I just hope that his family and his children can have the patience to accept what happened,” Dridi said

Trudeau had earlier reacted to Trump’s visa ban for people from some Muslim-majority countries by tweeting Saturday: “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada.”

Trudeau also posted a picture of himself greeting a Syrian child at Toronto’s airport in late 2015. Trudeau oversaw the arrival of more than 39,000 Syrian refugees soon after he was elected.

The mayor of Gatineau, near Canada’s capital, Ottawa, said there would be an increased police presence at mosques around his city following the attack. The New York Police Department also said it was stepping up patrols at mosques and other houses of worship.

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UPDATES:

3:25 p.m.: This article was updated with more information about the suspect.

2:35 p.m.: This article was updated with the shooting suspect being charged with six counts of first-degree murder.

9:42 a.m.: This article was updated with police now saying only one suspect has been named.

8:40 a.m.: This article was updated with the names of the suspects.

Jan. 30, 4:51 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details and an account from a mosque member.

10:30 p.m.: This article was updated with a report of a revised count of the dead and injured.

9:45 p.m.: This article was updated with more details about the attack, a statement from Canada’s prime minister, reaction from other police departments and context on refugees in Canada.

8:40 p.m.: This article was updated to report five people died, according to the president of the mosque.

This article was originally published on Jan. 29 at 7:45 p.m.